Sunday marks three weeks of life with Red. I have never had a dog quite like him, nor have I ever had a dog who slipped into my in so many ways so quickly. Karen Thompson’s descriptions of Red were thorough and accurate. He is very eager to please, and eager to find his place in the world. I knew Red loved work, but I did not grasp how loving or people-oriented he is. I know an accomplished  therapy dog trainer and I am thinking of having him evaluated.

Here is my report after three weeks. I am finally learning patience, clarity and have developed some good communications skills after living with my dogs and other animals for a good while. Red has no behavioral problems. He is housebroken, adapted to living inside of a house. His work with the sheep is stellar, appropriate and quite amazing.  He is learning to respect the road, and stops at my “no street” command. He sometimes anticipates me and breaks a “stay,” but we are working on that. Red has adapted to riding around in cars, to going into offices, bookstores, farmstands, offices. He keeps very close to me, but answers to Maria. He needs no socializing, he could not be more social. He ignores the donkeys, chickens, barn cats and treats the old sheep gently.

It took two days to housebreak Red, about average for me with my dogs.

Things to work on: he is a little grabby around food. He sometimes puts his paw up on people when he greets them (I have learned that many people love this and encourage it, which makes training difficult).  I am teaching him the “off” command. He has already learned not to approach us while we are eating, or to come near the dinner table if there is food. We ignore him completely.  He is beginning to challenge Lenore to play. She has not yet accepted. He is very easy around Frieda, and she with him. I am  teaching him to wait for me before I go out the door, rather than have him rush ahead. He is learning how to climb stairs, something that panicked him at first. He still takes them four steps at a time, but is slowing down. For the first time, he will nap in another room than the one I am in, a sign he is getting comfortable here.

Red is very bright. He leaves me alone when I am at the computer, or sitting and reading. He walks reliably off-leash, never running after trucks, cars, or animals in the woods. He is not drinking from the toilet bowl anymore. He walks no more than 20 feet ahead of me, then turns and waits (above). He walks easily with the other two dogs. He spends the night in his crate – and some time after herding –  and I think I will keep it that way. He likes it, is comfortable there, and it gives him a chance to settle, something border collies always need. Red will take me many places. He is a spirit dog, a guide, a magical helper, a lifetime dog. Too soon to know, but I suspect he will be a book.

I do not believe either in separation anxiety or grieving, despite their epidemic diagnosis among companion animals. I think they are mostly projections of human issues. Red has shown no signs or separation anxiety or grieving for his former owner, to whom he was famously devoted. And if he went back to Karen Thompson, he would fine in a day or so. That is the wonder of dogs and something it is important for me to remember in a time of runaway emotionalizing of adaptable animals.

I am learning that Red was treated harshly at different points in his life and I see that in his response to even the slightest irritation, or the sight of a stick or crook. I will learn more about this when Karen is ready to tell me. Couldn’t be happier with a dog or love him more. He is already a media hound too, and loves the camera.

You get the dog you need.